Reggae Legends

The Mighty DiamondsMighty Diamonds have persevered, the original trio lineup still intact, having logged some 40-plus albums during a career well into its fourth decade.By Jeff Tamarkin

Mikey Dread

Mikey DreadMikey Dread is perhaps best known today for his career as a singer and producer, the versatile Dread has had an equally lasting impact as a broadcaster.
By Tom Pryor

Mutabaruka

MutabarukaPossessing a leonine mane of dreadlocks graced with a natural white streak in the center and always defiantly barefoot, Mutabaruka has been hailed as a “fascinating combination of politics and music.”By Patricia Meschino

Skatalites

SkatalitesIt’s quite possible that no band that existed for a mere 18 months has had as much influence as the Skatalites, a veritable dream team of Jamaican musicians.
By Chris Nickson

Sly and Robbie

Sly and RobbieSly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare have been called the greatest such team in reggae, while their skills have carried them well beyond the reggae realm.By Tom Orr

Steel Pulse

Steel PulseSteel Pulse has stood at the forefront of British reggae for more than a quarter of a century. While their music has picked up influences, they’ve remained resolutely true to their roots and their politics.
By Chris Nickson

Third World

Third WorldThird World incorporated other stylistic elements into their reggae, most notably mainstream R&B and pop, into their sound, resulting in some dynamic, visionary, funky music.
By Jeff Tamarkin

UB40

UB40It was hard to escape the strains of UB40’s version of “Red Red Wine” in 1988. Until then, the British band had enjoyed only middling success in the U.S., but the number one single changed all that.
By Marie Elsie St. Léger

U Roy

U RoyU-Roy perfected the art of the Jamaican DJ, turning the between-song patter of his sound system predecessors into the main event itself.
By Tom Pryor

Yellowman

YellowmanWinston Foster, a.k.a. Yellowman, overcame significant obstacles to dominate the dancehall like no other DJ in the early 1980s.
By Tom Pryor

Lee 'Scratch' Perry

Lee "Scratch" PerryLee “Scratch” Perry's contribution to Jamaican music is immeasurable. His ceaseless creativity has resulted in some of the most startling and original sounds ever recorded, and the uniqueness of his vision has found resonance in music forms around the world.
By David Katz